Monogram’s Delta Dagger Grows Teeth

 

By Dick Smith

 

 

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger holds the distinction of being the first supersonic interceptor aircraft to enter service in the United States Air Force Air Defense Command’s (ADC) arsenal of weapons.

           

There are two 1/48th scale kits of this fighter and it is important to note the subtle differences of which model you are building.  In the early 1990s, Monogram Models issued a “Deuce” that contained the early “Case X” (Case Ten) wing that is identified by its straight, squared off tips. The company later issued a second boxing that featured the “Case XX” (Case Twenty) wing that is curved downward at the tip.  (This kit is now sold by Revell of Germany.) The Case XX wing replaced the earlier version on all aircraft starting with airframe 56-1317 onward and was not retrofitted. It is important to determine which kit you have and take care in selecting the markings.

           

Another caution concerning this kit is be ready for a lot of dry fitting and putty work when building this model.  The kit is almost 20 years old and does suffer from fit problems and some flash.  

           

Construction (with the Case X wing) starts with the cockpit that is painted overall dark gull gray (FS-26231) with semi-gloss black side panels.  The instrument panel, normally black, is also gray with the dials dry brushed with black.  A few dots of white glue or five-minute epoxy will duplicate the glass on the dials. The ejection seat cushions are dark green (FS-34096), seat belts highlighted in light gray and the headrest brushed with dark red.  Glue the completed cockpit into one side of the fuselage.  Next paint the inside of the afterburner nozzles dark metallic gray, place the flame holder ring into position and then cement the “burner” pieces together.  Glue the completed afterburner into the tail area and close the fuselage sides.  The positioning of the main and nose wheels are set far enough apart so as not to need weight in the nose to keep the “Deuce” from being a tail sitter.

 

 

The Delta Dagger was armed with a variety of missiles that were carried in a large underside bay.  The weapons bay can be built in the open position with three Falcon AIM-4F radar guided and three Falcon AIM-4G infra-red missiles loaded on their launchers.  This area along with the main and nose wheel wells are painted chromate green (FS-34227.) If you choose open bay option be sure to follow the kit instructions carefully and be ready to exercise considerable patience. Color photos of the missiles nestled in their bay can be found on page 38 of Bert Kinsey’s book “F-102 Delta Dagger In Detail and Scale.”

           

If you’ve constructed the missile bay open, set that assembly aside and tackle the expansive delta wings.  The top and bottom pieces do not fit together well and will require considerable sanding and filling.  The wing-to-fuselage joint will also require filling and sanding.

           

The F-102 entered active service in 1956 and was deployed to ADC bases in the continental United States, Alaska, Europe and the Pacific. In this role, the airframes were painted in an overall glossy light gray known as “ADC Gray” (FS-16473) with the large delta fin adorned with bright splashes of color. Super Scale has several sheets with the colorful markings. In 1960, the Air National Guard began receiving Delta Daggers where many units later painted their “Deuces” in the South East Asia (SEA) camouflage scheme.

           

 

The large delta wings were a perfect canvas on which to apply the two greens and tan irregular pattern.  Painting this scheme is done easily with an airbrush but a paint brush will accomplish the same job.  Start by painting the undersides of the aircraft with camouflage gray (FS-36440.) Using the drawing on the instruction sheet, lightly trace out the tri-color camouflage pattern on the topside with a soft lead pencil.  Begin painting with the lightest color area first and then move on to the lighter of the two greens and finally the darker green.

           

My choice for markings came from a photo of an aircraft from the 190th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Idaho Air National Guard found on the bottom of page 39 in the Kinsey book.  This aircraft was somewhat unique in that it sported a shark mouth on its nose.  I found suitable shark teeth on Micro Scale decal sheet, #48-157, that was designed for Vietnam era USAF F-4E Phantom. A little trimming and some dabs of paint customized this decal for my purposes. The National Guard “Minuteman” decal came from the Experts-Choice sheet #48-13.  The small national insignia were taken from a Scale-Master sheet of stars and bars.

 

 

 

Remarkably this same aircraft is further documented in the Kinsey book on the next page when it was photographed as a drone in the Pave Deuce program at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico in the 1970s.

 

 

Seal the markings with a light coat of dulling spray. Attach the canopy, landing gear and your shark mouthed “Delta Dagger” is ready for display.